School Counselor · Salary Comparison · 2026
School Counselor Salary: Boston, MA vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for School Counselors in Boston, MA and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$62,000 vs $70,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Boston, MA
$38,272 vs $37,634
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Boston, MA
$33,595 vs $31,540
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $62,000 | $70,000▲ | -$8,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $47,740 | $53,900▲ | -$6,160 |
| 75th Percentile | $79,360 | $89,600▲ | -$10,240 |
| 90th Percentile | $99,200 | $112,000▲ | -$12,800 |
| Cost of Living Index | 162 | 186 | -24 |
| State Income Tax | 5%▲ | 9.3% | -4.300000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $38,272▲ | $37,634 | +$638 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $54,424 | $58,665▲ | -$4,241 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $33,595▲ | $31,540 | +$2,055 |
| Total Employment | 105,000 | 130,000 | -25,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Boston, MA minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $8,000 more (median: $62,000 vs $70,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 162 vs 186), Boston, MA provides better purchasing power ($38,272 vs $37,634 equivalent). Boston, MA has the lower state tax rate (5% vs 9.3%).
Data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS · 2026 · Cost-of-living indices from composite metro area data. Take-home estimates approximate only — consult a tax professional for accurate figures.